KUALA LUMPUR: The public should go for scheduled medical examinations at least twice a year in order to detect cancer, said Health deputy director-general (medical) Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai.
He said the public should get medical examinations done to detect cancer at an early stage.

“This lack of concern and not wanting to take medical tests are among the challenges in the management of cancer in this country. Health examinations can be done twice a year, and early detection could reduce the mortality rate from cancer,” he said in the programme ‘Breakfast Talk’ 2/2016 series, held at the Malaysian Integrity Institute yesterday.
Dr Jeyaindran said in 2014, an estimated 90,000 people were treated as cancer patients.
Meanwhile, general manager of the National Cancer Council Farahida Mohd Farid said according to the 2013 Makna report, 45,000 Malaysians were reported to have cancer and the number was increasing each year.
“The easiest way to prevent cancer is to change eating habits and have an active lifestyle as medical experts have acknowledged that these could improve the blood circulation system and promote better immunisation,” she said.

A stage-four lung cancer survivor Mohd Zulhaimi Suderman, 39, said he regretted not going for medical checks to detect the disease early but was grateful that he had fully recovered from it a year ago.

“I often felt pain in my chest and was always coughing for 18 months, I did not expect it to be a sign of lung cancer.
“My advice is not to take any pain that you experience lightly. I encourage you to refer to a doctor before it becomes worse,” he said.

The ‘Breakfast Talk’ 2/2016 series programme which focused on issues and challenges relating to cancer management, was held in conjunction with World Cancer Day on Feb 4. — Bernama